Indigenous artists score big with JUNO nominations

Less than a month ago, our 2015 Year in Review blog post heralded the phenomenal year that was for Indigenous musicians across Canada. Following the announcement of this year’s JUNO nominations, 2016 looks every bit as promising.

Aboriginal Album of the Year nominees include Armond Duck Chief (The One), Black Bear (Come & Get Your Love), Buffy Sainte-Marie (Power in the Blood), Derek Miller (Rumble) and Don Amero (Refined).

At 74 years young, and fresh off her 2015 Polaris Music Prize win, the iconic Buffy Sainte-Marie led the way with three nominations. Her critically-acclaimed album, Power in the Blood, is up for Aboriginal Album of the Year and Contemporary Roots Album of the Year. Sainte-Marie’s third nomination is for Songwriter of the Year, a category packed with the likes of Tobias Jesso Jr., Coeur de pirate’s Béatrice Martin, Dallas Green of City and Colour, and The Weeknd.